Mr. Stein: There was a telling event that was missed in the Ohio State-Iowa game. It occurred with about 81/2 minutes left in the first half, just before Iowa passed for a touchdown.

The quarterback handed off to Mark Weisman, a 235-pound back, who proceeded to lower his head while flexing his knees. When he reached the line of scrimmage the crown of his helmet was just under Ryan Shazier’s chin. Instead of plowing straight forward, he straightened those knees. When helmet contact was made, Shazier’s head snapped upward and in the process his feet and the rest of him were jerked up off the ground.

Why was this “targeting” violation ignored while Bradley Roby’s left shoulder hit was nit-picked into a violation by a group of clowns? Comments from the announcers as to what they saw were in admiration. Weisman was referred to as a bulldozer and Iowa football as powerful football.

— Robert Carroll, Galloway

Robert: I do not remember the play, but if Weisman did indeed initiate contact with the crown of his helmet, then he would be subject to penalty. If he did not lead with the crown, well, Shazier certainly wasn’t a defenseless player. As for Roby, it didn’t strike me as an egregious call, but my judgment might be clouded by the unnecessary and unsportsmanlike stomp after the play.

But to read Tim May’s story in Tuesday’s paper that “the impact caused the receiver’s facemask to strike Roby’s helmet” was beyond the pale. I laughed so hard I almost spilled my morning coffee. Readers deserve a bit more honest and impartial coverage by our crack Dispatch sports writers.

— Tony Owen, Westerville

Tony: That’s the OSU view of the play, one with which many observers agree. I do not, and obviously you don’t, either. To me, it seems clear that Roby launches, his left shoulder pad lands and a split-second later his helmet pops the receiver’s facemask.

Editor: Let me get this straight: The defensive coordinator of No. 2 Oregon, while his team is running up 62 points, is upset with his opponent for not laying down? Sounds like something out of Bizarro World.

I’m going to read it again; that can’t be right.

— Bob Hengen, Columbus

Bob: Nope, you read it right. In Nick Aliotti’s world, once a team — his team — reaches 60 points, apparently they should employ a running clock. I’m hoping that some of his $5,000 fine was for stupidity.

Editor: I always look forward to the new NHL season. This year, there’s the hope that this is the year for the Blue Jackets, the excitement of a new conference, and seeing which youngsters will establish themselves.

But the thing I look forward to the most is that I know my summer of sleepless nights are over because I get to hear the human cure for insomnia, Jeff Rimer, announce the games. How the CBJ can continue to employ such a boring, bland, uninspiring, uneventful announcer is beyond me.

I swear I saw a download the other day titled, “Soothing sounds guaranteed to help you sleep at night.” The selection included sounds of gentle rain, rhythmic ocean waves and Rimer calling a Jackets game.

C’mon, CBJ, you have an exciting product on the ice. Now, step up the entertainment value on television.

— Jim Schrader, Grove City

Jim: It seems to me that the idea of home-team announcers, regardless of the sport, is one of those things where the grass is always greener on the other side of the compound. My announcer complaints generally aren’t about blandness as much as their tendency to sugarcoat when things aren’t going so hot.

Sir: Even the national announcers referred to Mike Nugent of the Bengals as an “ex-Buckeye” when he made the game-winning field goal last week against the Lions.

A guy like Nugent is always a Buckeye and I bet he thinks of himself that way, too. Instead of “ex-Buckeye,” I propose the media begin to use “ex-player.”

— Syd Lifshin, Grandview

Syd: The problem with treating former OSU players like marines is in consistency. So Nuge is a Buckeye for life. Do you feel the same about, say, Terrelle Pryor?